Frequently in airdrop applications, there arises a need to swiftly sever lines or rigging as commanded. Conventionally, pyrotechnically driven cut knives have been employed for this purpose. However, EDC has developed an improved alternative: the hot wire cutter. This innovative tool offers a simple, quiet, cost-effective, and lightweight solution. The hot wire cutter is a small, battery powered device that has the capability of quickly cutting through a wide variety of synthetic ropes. It is effective against nylon, polyester, Spectra, Dyneema, Vectran, and even the robust Kevlar fibers. The hot wire cutter can be greatly beneficial in de-rigging payloads from airdrop platforms, detaching main parachutes from landed payloads, and de-reefing parachutes. To learn more about the design and development of the hot wire cutter, as well as experimental testing and results of the system, read the published paper below!
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